[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 5476-5477]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING THE ARMY FISHER HOUSES

   Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, Zachary and Elizabeth M. Fisher 
established the Fisher House Foundation, Inc., a unique public-private 
partnership that supports America's military in their time of need. The 
program recognizes the special sacrifices of our men and women in 
uniform and the hardships of military service by meeting a humanitarian 
need beyond that provided by the Department of Defense. The Fisher 
Houses enable family members to be close to loved ones at the most 
stressful time--during hospitalization for an unexpected illness, 
disease, or injury.
  The homes are built by the Fisher House Foundation, Inc., and given 
to the military services and the Veterans Administration. The Army is 
the recipient of 14 of the 32 Fisher Houses located at every major 
military medical center and at several VA medical centers. The homes 
are located within walking distance of the medical facility.
   I recently had the pleasure of visiting with Fisher family members, 
friends, and staff of the Fisher House on board the USS Missouri to 
celebrate the opening of the second Fisher House at Tripler Army 
Medical Center, the largest military medical treatment facility in the 
Pacific located in Honolulu, HI. The first Tripler Fisher House opened 
in June 1994. Due to its location, families stay an average of 55 days, 
compared to an average of 15 days in other locations. Tripler Fisher 
Houses service families and patients not only from Hawaii but also the 
Pacific area of Korea, Guam, Japan, and Okinawa.
   The Fisher Houses provide temporary lodging in a warm, 
compassionate, and

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caring home away from home environment to members of our armed 
services, veterans, and their families during a medical crisis. They 
enable families to stay together, cook meals, do laundry, relax, 
unwind, and provide emotional support to each other during a time of 
need, and to escape from the tensions of the hospital environment.
   Today, when we ask so much of our military in support of freedom, it 
is important to recognize the generosity of foundations such as The 
Fisher House, that give back to those who have given so much in 
defending this great Nation.

                          ____________________